Decreased Maternal Plasma Apelin Concentrations in Preeclampsia

Abstract

Background. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that complicates 3–7% of pregnancies. The development of preeclampsia has not been completely elucidated and current therapies are not broadly efficacious. The apelinergic system appears to be involved in hypertensive disorders and experimental studies indicate a role of this system in preeclampsia. Thus, an epidemiological evaluation of apelin protein concentration in plasma was conducted in case–control study of pregnant women. Methods. Data and maternal plasma samples were collected from pregnant women with confirmed preeclampsia (n = 76) or normotensive controls (n = 79). Concentrations of apelin peptides were blindly measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were subjected to statistical analyses. Results. Plasma apelin concentrations, measured at delivery, were lower in preeclampsia cases compared with controls (mean ± standard deviation: 0.66 ± 0.29 vs. 0.78 ± 0.31 ng/mL, p = 0.02). After controlling for confounding by maternal age, smoking status, and pre-pregnancy body mass index, odds of preeclampsia were 48% lower for women with high versus low plasma apelin (≥0.73 vs. <0.73 ng/mL) concentrations. Conclusion. Reduced circulating apelin peptides may be associated with preeclampsia. The apelinergic system should be further investigated to elucidate its role in preclampsia and other hypertensive maternal disorders.

• Preeclampsia
• Apelin
• APJ
• Hypertension
• Epidemiology

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

RM and SR thank RTI International for supporting this work with internal funding. Data and sample collection for this research were supported, in part, by awards from the National Institutes of Health (R01 HD-34-888 and R01 HD-32562).

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.